The freshmen's bid for a doubleheader sweep came apart in one inning: after Valencia took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth, Saugus answered with four in the bottom half and held on 6-3 to split the Saturday set.

Valencia's rally was vintage: walks to Jackson Lord and Jace Lindstrom, Kasen Caranto's two-run double to left, and Caranto scoring when Brian Shaw's grounder was booted at second. But Saugus loaded the bases right back. Valencia cut down a run at the plate on a fielder's choice, Marcus Paikos to Caden Shin, only for the tying run to score on a passed ball and a three-run double to follow.

From there Saugus's #83 shut the door, allowing one hit with five strikeouts over the final 3.1 innings; Valencia struck out nine times in all. Nate Marroquin matched him with two scoreless relief innings and three strikeouts.

Shin was everywhere behind the plate with nine putouts, and Caranto's double gave him RBI in both ends of the doubleheader. Saugus's Austin Rospond scored three times without a hit, stealing three bases.